Wally Oxley

Monday, March 03, 2014 1:11 PM

Wally Oxley, 83, of Ossian, died Saturday, March 1, 2014, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be given to the Patty Elwood Center, 21668 80th Street, Cresco, IA, 52136 or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Services are at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 6, at Ossian Lutheran Church in Ossian, with Rev. David Lenth officiating. Organist is Elaine Knutson. Hymns are “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “How Great Thou Art” (Lynnae Kuene, soloist) and “When The Saints Go Marching In.” Casket bearers are Doug Egland, Todd Duncan, Lucas Kuene, Dustin Bigler, Stewart Oxley and Allan Schmitt. Honorary casket bearers are the staff of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship and Winneshiek Soil and Water Conservation District. Interment is at Greenwood Centennial Cemetery in Ossian. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Anthony Walter “Wally” Oxley, Jr, was born Dec. 28, 1930, the son of Anthony “Tad” and Clarissa (Rovang) Oxley, Sr., on the family farm, rural Ossian. Wally was baptized and confirmed at the Ossian Lutheran Church. He attended country school near Ossian and high school at the Wentworth Military Academy in Missouri, where he was a featherweight golden gloves boxer. Wally served in the US Air Force during the Korean War. Wally was united in marriage to Alice Nelson Aug. 7, 1960, at the Ossian Lutheran Church. He attended college in Arizona, farmed the family farm and went back to college at Luther College, graduating in 1980. Wally worked for the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for Fayette, Clayton and then Winneshiek County, until the age of 75. Wally was an avid reader, reading many history books and magazines. He enjoyed classical music, loved the family farm and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Green Bay Packer fan. Wally was a member of the Brockman-Hammersland American Legion Post No. 503 in Ossian.